A remarkable surge in Indian student enrollments has propelled Asia to become the leading continent of origin for international students in the United States in 2024, according to the latest “SEVIS by the Numbers” report released by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
This annual report, published by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), reveals that student records for Indian nationals increased by a notable 11.8 percent over the previous year. Specifically, the U.S. saw an addition of 44,715 Indian student records in 2024, the largest jump among all nationalities. This dramatic growth placed India firmly at the top of the list of countries sending students to the U.S., with a total of 422,335 active student records — overtaking China, which recorded 329,541 active records, reflecting a minor decline of 824 students compared to 2023.
“Fueled by a sharp 11.8 percent increase in Indian student enrollments, Asia emerged as the top continent of origin for international students in the United States in 2024,” the report stated.
With these developments, Asia accounted for 71.7 percent of all active international student records in the country, a significant portion of which came from India and China. Together, these two countries represented over 47.5 percent of the entire Asian student population in the U.S., underscoring their dominant role in international education trends.
The total number of foreign students in the United States grew by 5.3 percent from 2023, reaching a cumulative 1,582,808 active records for F-1 and M-1 visa holders. This growth highlights a broader recovery and expansion in the international education sector following years of disruption due to the global pandemic.
Indian students also stood out in the area of post-graduation work opportunities. Nearly half — 48 percent — of all foreign students who participated in the STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) extension in 2024 were Indian. The STEM OPT program, which allows graduates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields to work in the U.S. for an extended period, attracted a total of 165,524 participants this year. Indian students’ strong representation in this area demonstrates both their academic focus and career ambitions in technical fields.
“Nearly half (48 percent) of all foreign students participating in the STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) extension were from India,” the report noted.
In terms of academic level, the majority of Indian students in 2024 enrolled in graduate-level programs, with the data showing notable increases in both master’s and doctoral studies. Across all nationalities, master’s degree seekers grew by 9.7 percent, while those pursuing doctoral degrees saw a 4.1 percent increase. Specifically, 667,622 students registered in master’s programs and 214,824 chose doctoral tracks. These figures indicate a strong demand for advanced education among international students, with Indians leading the trend.
The academic interests of international students remained largely consistent with previous years, with Computer Science continuing as the most favored major. The report recorded 118,137 active student records in this field, reaffirming its popularity. Other top disciplines included Business Administration, Electrical Engineering, and Information Technology — all areas where Indian students have traditionally shown substantial interest and excelled.
“Computer Science remained the most popular major among international students, with 118,137 active records,” the report highlighted.
Employment opportunities for international students have also seen a significant boost. In 2024, a total of 194,554 foreign students were approved for Optional Practical Training (OPT), marking a 21.1 percent rise from the previous year. Among them, 95,384 were granted permission under the STEM OPT program, representing a substantial 54 percent increase. These numbers reflect a growing demand among students to gain hands-on experience in their fields after completing their academic programs.
“The report also noted a continued increase in employment authorization for international students. A total of 194,554 students were granted OPT in 2024, a 21.1 percent increase from the previous year, and 95,384 were authorized under STEM OPT — a 54 percent jump,” the document stated.
Geographically, California remained the most popular destination for international students, hosting 237,763 student records — the highest in the country. The Southern United States emerged as the fastest-growing region for international enrollments, recording an 8.5 percent increase. This was followed by the Midwest and Northeast regions, which also experienced healthy growth in student numbers.
“California remained the most popular state for international students, hosting 237,763 foreign student records. The South saw the highest regional growth at 8.5 percent,” the report revealed.
In terms of gender distribution among Indian students, the trend continued to show a higher proportion of male students. In 2024, the data revealed that Indian students were comprised of 38 percent females and 62 percent males. This gender pattern has remained largely consistent and reflects broader global trends in international higher education.
“In 2024, Indian students made up 38 percent female and 62 percent male enrollment,” the report observed.
Altogether, the findings of the SEVIS report point to a dynamic and expanding role for Indian students in the U.S. higher education landscape. With the highest growth in student records, dominant participation in STEM OPT, and significant enrollment in graduate-level programs, India has become the leading contributor to the international student population in the United States.
The overall rise in foreign student numbers, coupled with growing employment opportunities and a shift in geographical preferences, highlights the continued appeal of U.S. higher education among students worldwide. As Asia cements its status as the top region of origin, and India takes the lead among nations, the 2024 data underscores a shifting but strengthening global student mobility pattern centered around academic and professional aspirations in the United States.